Swing indicator for a golf club



June 5, 1962 C. CHEDISTER ETAL SWING INDICATOR FOR A GOLF CLUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 9, 1958 Re Tmm R N HZ 1m m m T um MN w June 5, 1962 Filed Sept. 9, 1958 C. CHEDISTER ETAL SWING INDICATOR FOR A GOLF CLUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS CONKL/Nc; CHEO/STER RONA/.0 CHED/STER flTTORNEYS- Filed Sept. 9, 1958, Ser. No. 760,022 1 Claim. (til. 273-186) The present invention relates to a novel and improved means for indicating the path through which a golf club is swung in play or practice. More particularly the present invention relates to an improved indicating means which operates unidirectionally and which may be adjusted to compensate for various intensities of stroke.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a swing indicator which operates only on the forward swing at the ball.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a swing indicator which can be adjusted to compensate for various intensities of stroke.

Another object of the invention is the providing of means for limiting the amount of marking material delivered at each stroke.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the steps, methods and compositions of matter pointed out in the appended claim.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions;

arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front plan view of the swing indicator mechanism mounted on the shaft of a golf club.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the swing indicator mechanism from the shaft side.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken through line 3-3 of FIG 1 URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a section taken through line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a section FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a section taken through line 6-6' of FIGURE 3 when the swing indicator mechanism is in the filling position.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the swing indicator mechanism as used.

The present invention provides an indicator mechanism which is adapted to project a fine stream of a marking material along a path of swing of a golf club as the club is accelerated in its downward flight toward the position of the ball and is adapted to discontinue the emission of the fluid (solid or liquid) marking material as the club is decelerated or swung in the reverse direction. Prior indicator mechanisms have depended upon a combination of inertia and centrifugal force to deposit an indicator material on the ground. The diificulty experienced in prior art embodhnents was that a golfer would mark the path of his back swing on his backward stroke which would confuse him when observing the line made by his forward stroke.

The present invention provides an indicator mechanism which avoids the hazards attending the usual nonconventional movements of the club to which it is attached. It also provides a means for limiting the amount of indicator material which is emitted at any one time.

taken through line 5-5 of atent fiice Patented June 5, 1962 It is self-loading in that the delivered amount is supplied to the delivery chamber by the normal cocking movement of the club. The present invention has a valve which is operated by the resistance of air to the indicator mechanisms passage through it as it is pulled through the air by the stroke of the club. This valve can be opened by air resistance only in one direction so it is operative only on the down stroke.

The indicator mechanism comprises a container divided essentially into two sections. These sections are closed by a single cover or cap. The larger section functions as a reservoir in which there is contained the marking material which though preferably a somewhat viscous liquid could also be a finely divided powder. The second section is a truncated cone or pyramid the apex of which would have projected beneath the lower end of the mechanism. The opening of which resulting from the trunca tion is closed by a sealing means which can be opened by displacement of the vane with which it is integrated. The vane is pivotally mounted to the sides of the container by spaced mounting brackets attached on one end to the vane and on the other end to pivots on the body of the container. Also mounted between said brackets is a bar one portion of which forms a tongue so positioned as to form a seal with the orifice of the delivery chamber from which the marking material is dispensed when the vane is at the rest position. The marking material remains confined in the delivery chamber until the valve is opened by displacement of the vane.

Another aspect of the valve mechanism is that the amount of resistance which is necessary to displace the vane may be varied by adjusting a tensioning means such the mounting bracket while the other end of it may be positioned at various points along the body of the container, held in position by conventional bosses raised on the sur face of said container.

The forward swinging of the club causes the air in its path to push against the vane and when this push reaches a predetermined strength the vane is displaced about its pivot position opening the tween the spaced brackets and allowing the marking material to be dispensed in a narrow stream as a result of the centrifugal force exerted thereon. sulting from this is only pertinent for a path of about 3 feet prior to the position of the ball and a foot beyond. A longer path is impractical as the club head is too high from the ground to keep the pathway narrow and clear.

The tension therefore may be adjusted so that only this optimum path is traced by the marking material. Prior indicators did not have an adjustment which took this factor into consideration. Heretofore the deposition of mark ing might be premature, which would justgo to more rapidly dissipating the marking material.

Many different kinds of solid or liquid marking materials may be employed. Finely divided or powdered freefiowing material such as talc, starch, whiting and the like may be used, but a slightly viscous slurry or suspension of a pigment, such as fine magnesia or whiting, in water is preferred. The marking material may be of any desired color but it is preferable to use material of a light color so as to contrast with the normal color of the grass where practice is usually held.

In certain respects, the swing indicator of the present sealing means mounted be- The marking reare exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings:

The indicator mechanism 10 is shown mounted on and secured to a conventional golf club having a shaft 12 and a striking head 14, the indicator mechanism normally being mounted substantially adjacent the shank of the club shaft 12. The swing indicator mechanism 10 is enclosed at its closer to the golfer end by a friction fitting cap 22 which is attached to the mounting means 44 by a flexible band 24. Mounted on the containers end is vane 26, which has supported on it mounting brackets 28, which are pivoted near their apex on pivots 30,'and which have mounted between them a bar 32 hearing a closing means 46, which is positioned against orifice 34. Mounted around pivot 30 is a helical spring 36, one end of which is secured stationary inside of mounting bracket 28 by securing means 38, the free end 42 of which may 'be used to adjust tension on vane 26, by locking said free end 42 into one of the tensioned positions 40.

FIGURE 2 shows the apparatus described in FIG- URE 1 as seen from the shaft side. The friction fitting cap 22 is shown in place attached by flexible band 24 to the mounting means 44. .Vane 26 is shown disposed behind the mounting means 44 and the container 16. Mounting brackets 28 are shown supported on the inner surface of vane' 26 and pivot 30 is shown passing through the wall of the container 16 and brackets 28. The helical spring 36 passes around pivot 30 between the wall of container 16 and the inside surface of bracket 28. The stationary end of said helical spring 36 is shown held by securing means 38 while the free end 42 is shown disposed in one of the tensioning positions 40. Orifice 3 4 is shown by means of broken lines closed by a closing means 46 mounted on bar 32 which is supported between brackets 28.

FIGURE 3 shows the interior of container 16 which is subdivided into a reservoir chamber 18 and a delivery chamber 20. Vane 26 is shown in its displaced position with bar 32 mounted on brackets 28 pivoted about pivot 30 displacing closing means 46 from orifice 34 allowing the escape of marking fluid 48 fro-m said delivery chamber 20 FIGURE 4 shows a section through the empty'swing indicator mechanism asmounted on a golf club shaft 12.

secured there by a tension spring 50, which urges the opening of mounting means 44 together. The container 16 is shown divided into reservoir 18 and delivery chamber 20. Vane 26' supported by brackets 28 is shown 7 attached to mounting means 44' by means of a pivot 30 passing through brackets 28 and the wall of container 16.

FIGURE is a section taken through line 5-5 of FIGURE 3 looking toward the vane side. It shows par ticula-rly clearly the position of delivery chamber 20 with relation to reservoir 18 in container 16.

. FIGURE 6 shows the manner in which'the supply of marking fluid 48 is renewed in delivery chamber 20 by tilting the swing indicator device in such manner that the fluid material in reservoir 18 in seeking its own level fills both those portionsof reservoir 18 and delivery chamber as are common in that position,

4 FIGURE 7 shows the normal position for holding a golf club prior to starting the descending swing which indicates that in each such instance the swing indicator mechanism will be in that position in which the supply of marking fluid is replenished in the delivery chamber. The mounting means by which the indicator is attached to the shaft of the golf club may be of any desired design, preferably such as is described in the patent to Chedister et al., Serial No. 2,804,306.

, In the use of the indicating mechanism of the present invention when it is attached to the golf club, and when it is in the position shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the golf club is swung in the usual manner by the player with the container 10 which is at least partially filled with the flowahle solid or liquid marking material. As the club is raised so that the swing may be begun, marking material from the reservoir 18 flows into the delivery chamber 20. As the club is swung downward the resistance of the air to the passage of the vane 26 attached to the bar 32 on the container 10 which supports closing means 46 reaches a point which causes the displacement of said vane 26 from its rest position against the tension spring 36, and opens the orifice 34 of the delivery chamber 20 allowing the passage of the'marking material contained therein in a fine stream to the grass on either side of the ball. This traces the path of the club head during that portion of the swing which has been completed from about three feet'in front of the point at which the ball should have been hit to a point about one foot beyond. The player reduces the speed of the club head thereby lowering the forces of the air against the vane 26 which returns to its rest position thereby closing the delivery chamber orifice 34. Should the deposition of the marking material take place over an unnecessarily long path, the tension may be adjusted on the closing means 46 by adjusting the position of the movable end of the helical spring 36. Conversely, should the path traced be of insufficient length to be instructive, the tension on the closing means may be lessened by adjustment of the helical spring 36. j w

The invention in itsbroader aspects is not limited to the specific steps, methods and compositions described, but departuremay be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claim without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

A swing indicating device which is mountable on the shaft of a conventional golf club comprising a container to receive a flowable marking material therein, an outlet at the lower endof said container, means for normally closing said outlet, air actuated means attached to said means for opening the outlet as the club and indicating device are swung in one direction, and mounting means carried by said container for mounting same on the shaft of a golf club adjacent the head thereof.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent Bonetate e oer. 27, 1959 

